Improvement in iron car-bodies



T. E. WARREN.

Car Body. No. 10,142. Patented Oct. 18, 1853.

UNITED STATES THOMAS E. WARREN,

IMPRdVEMENT IN or TROY, NEW YORK.

IRON CAR-BODIES.

Specification forming part of Letters-Patent No. 10,142, dated October 18, 1853.

' of making, modifying, and using the same.

My improvement in the construction of railroad and other carriage bodies consists in a combination of three elements, whichunited go to form astrong, light, and durable structure combining these qualities in a much greater degree than any other car or carriage now or heretofore known. The three elements above alluded to form the sides and unite all the parts and are a series of straight panels of thin sheet metal, which serve as diagonal braces, and columns of the same material for strengthening the plates, to which they are firmly riveted, together with through-bolts extending through the columns to hold the top and bottom to the sides--a service which there is not strength enough in the thin metal sides to perform it riveted to the top and bottom. These three parts united are found by experience to combine more strength with agiven amount of material than any other structure now known. Each of these three elements was before well known, and two of them-namely, straightandcorrugatedplates-havebeensuggested in the manufacture of cars, but up to this time they have never been introduced, nor could they be without the third-the through-bolts or their equivalent.

The construction is as follows: The columns A are fluted round or ribbed of any figure that utility or ornament shall suggest. They are made of two parts, having a plain flat (or figured) panel 0, bolted between these parts at the junction B, with a row of bolts like the joints of a boiler. Acap and box-plates E and D serve for the thin edges of the upper and lower ends of the columns to rest against. Under the boxes of the columns there isasillpieceH extending the whole length, and above the caps asimilar piece F. With these sides the top and bottom of the car (or carriage) is connected by straight small rods of iron passing down through the top and bottom in .the interior of the column. This is shown in detail in Fig. 3, F being the rods or bolts. They have a nut and screw on their ends by which they are screwed up tight and bind all the parts firmly together in such a manner that the car (or carriage) is secured against all lateral and twisting strains, as well as the vertical pressure of the load, and when the parts are worn loosethey can be set up tight a ain.

The columns are for the purpose of stiffening the sides in the manner of corrugated plates, and the straight plates serve the purpose of diagonal bracing, as well as affording a proper opening for windows, &c., while the through-bolts run through the whole, and bringing the top and bottom together secure the whole into one, uniting the maximum of strength and tightness with applicability to the purpose ofthe car andother carriage bodies, and cheapness of construction. It is obvious that these elements are capable of great variety and beauty of form without at all changing the structure in principle. The iron car will-be superior to the wooden structures now in use in many respects. They will be cheaper, lighter, stronger, more durable, less leaky, safer in case of collision, fire, and lightning proof, &c.

improved car and other carriage body, What by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the hollow sheet-metal columns and panels, as described, with the through-bolts holding the top, bottom, and

for the purpose set forth.

THOMAS E. WARREN.

Witnesses:

J. F. WALSH, CHAS. H. HOUGHTON.

Having thus fully described my new and I I claim therein as new, and desire to secure sides all firmly together, in the manner and 

